Tick Prevention

A quick update for anyone who has followed "My Walk With Lyme" I have been nearly symptom free for about 1 1/2 years. This is truly a miracle and I will go further into details in another blog post. (I took a long period off of writing because I was sick of writing about it and wanted to just think about something else, but I promise to write more in another post).

It's that time of year when everyone and their brother start finding ticks on their skin. This is particularly scary with the increased number of individuals being diagnosed with  Lyme disease. A disease that if not caught right away is extremely difficult to diagnose and unfortunately is still highly controversial; more on that later. For now, let's talk about how to better keep you and your family safe. 

DEET is the spray that we most commonly hear about and use for bug repellent. Although it does not kill ticks on contact, it is relatively safe for spraying on the skin. "Relatively" safe is the keyword here. In 2009, US News & World Report published an article entitled, 

Deet's Nastiness Extends to Humans. "DEET, the active ingredient in many bug repellents, doesn’t only cripple mosquitoes—it also meddles with mammals. A new study examining DEET’s effects on insects, mice and human proteins reports that the chemical interferes with a prominent central nervous system enzyme. This effect is magnified when exposure to DEET is combined with exposure to certain pesticides..."

An alternative and more effective way of killing ticks is Permethrin. Permethrin is derived from a chemical found in the chrysanthemum family of plants. IT SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED TO THE SKIN!!! Permethrin is more difficult to find than DEET so here is a link to purchase it on Amazon.

If you are going camping in the woods then you should really consider soaking/spraying the clothing items you will be wearing in Permethrin. You can find some helpful videos on treating your clothing at TickEncounter Resource Center.

The LymeNet Europe offers a list of pros and cons of using Permethrin and DEET

Pros and Cons:

• DEET needs to be applied regularly and can only work as it is evaporating. Permethrin works for weeks after it has dried inside clothing fibers.
• DEET is applied directly to the skin and can be absorbed through the skin. Permethrin is applied to clothing only and has limited contact to the skin.
• DEET has a detectable odor. Permethrin smells only until it dries.
• DEET does not kill or disable ticks and is a poor repellent. Permethrin works instantly and is extremely effective. It is the tick repellent of choice by the military.
• DEET can melt synthetic clothes like nylon. Permethrin causes no damage to any known cloth or synthetic fiber.
• DEET products are easy to find. Permethrin is hard to find and more expensive.
• DEET is an effective fish repellent.  (Permethrin is actually known to be very toxic to fish!)

Tick Prevention 101

1.  What to Wear -  Wear light colored clothing so that you can better see dark colored ticks. Tuck your pants into your socks making it more difficult for the tick to reach your skin.

2. Spray your clothes NOT YOUR SKIN with Permethrin.

3. Use essential oils on skin.

BUG REPELLENT - The Natural Way

As someone whose neurological system has been effected in a major way from ticks, I certainly don't want to use a product that could potentially continue to effect my neurological system. AND, I certainly do not want my children effected in a negative way. I am constantly spraying my kids for bugs during the summer. So, I choose to use bug & tick repellent the natural way. 

TOOLS

Dark Glass Spray Bottle (DO NOT USE PLASTIC, Essential Oils are so strong they can cause the chemicals in the plastic to mix with your recipe)

Distilled or Purified Water or Vodka (keeps sprayer from getting clogged)

Carrier Oil such as Jojoba Oil, Coconut Oil, or Sweet Almond Oil 

Essential Oil(s) - The two leading 100% Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil companies often have a bug repellent oil. Consider adding in cedar wood, geranium, and peppermint oil (about 20-30 drops each)

In a 4 oz dark glass bottle place the drops of essential oil(s). Add 2 TBLs of carrier oil. Fill the bottle with Distilled Water or Vodka. Shake Before Spraying. Spray on skin and clothing. 

***Many of you have already been attacked and need to know about proper removal. Please check out my post on  "Proper Tic Removal."

My Walk With Lyme & Kids

A lot is written about what it is like living with the late stage Lyme, but I haven't seen much about what it's like for the family members and friends. I can't really speak for them and their feelings; for certain it varies for each person. However, what I can share is how my children respond.

My kids, like many, wear their feelings on their sleeve.

Bye Bye Bugs

Last year I wrote an article about Tick Prevention. There is some really helpful information on that post and worth going back and reading. However, I feel inclined to update you on some information about repelling bugs, especially ticks! 

DEET is the spray that we most commonly hear about and use. Although it does not kill ticks on contact, it is "relatively" safe for spraying on the skin.

Pros and Cons:

• DEET needs to be applied regularly and can only work as it is evaporating. Permethrin works for weeks after it has dried inside clothing fibers.
• DEET is applied directly to the skin and can be absorbed through the skin. Permethrin is applied to clothing only and has limited contact to the skin.
• DEET has a detectable odor. Permethrin smells only until it dries.
• DEET does not kill or disable ticks and is a poor repellent. Permethrin works instantly and is extremely effective. It is the tick repellent of choice by the military.
• DEET can melt synthetic clothes like nylon. Permethrin causes no damage to any known cloth or synthetic fiber.
• DEET products are easy to find. Permethrin is hard to find and more expensive.
• DEET is an effective fish repellent.  (Permethrin is actually known to be very toxic to fish!)

"Relatively" safe is the keyword here. In 2009, US News & World Report published an article entitled, 

Deet's Nastiness Extends to Humans

"DEET, the active ingredient in many bug repellents, doesn’t only cripple mosquitoes—it also meddles with mammals. A new study examining DEET’s effects on insects, mice and human proteins reports that the chemical interferes with a prominent central nervous system enzyme. This effect is magnified when exposure to DEET is combined with exposure to certain pesticides..."

As someone whose neurological system has been effected in a major way from ticks, I certainly don't want to use a product that could potentially continue to effect my neurological system. AND, I certainly do not want my children effected in a negative way. I am constantly spraying my kids for bugs during the summer. So, being the Essential Oil Mama that I have become I am using bug repellant the natural way. 

BUG REPELLANT - The Natural Way

There are a lot of variations of bug repellant out there using essential oils. I am going to list the tools you need and a couple of the recipes. 

TOOLS

Dark Glass Spray Bottle (DO NOT USE PLASTIC, Essential Oils are so strong they can cause the chemicals in the plastic to mix with your recipe)

Distilled or Purified Water

RECIPE 1 (I am currently using this one, and having several friends use it as well. I will keep you posted if it needs tweaked - SUPER CHEAP TO MAKE THIS!!!!)

• 50 drops of
• 4 oz Distilled Water

In a 4 oz dark glass bottle place about 50 drops of . Fill the bottle with Distilled Water. Shake Before Spraying. Spray on skin and clothing. Safe for all ages. Lasts up to 5 hours(if using a smaller spray bottle it's about 12 drops of oil to 1 oz water)

RECIPE 2 (found this recipe on the Yankee Homestead Blog I have not tried. If I find that I need something stronger than TerraShield I will try adding these oils in. Also, if you plan on using Recipe 2 on children, you need to add 2 tsp of carrier oil such as Fractionated Coconut Oil so it doesn't burn their skin.)

• 25-30 drops Purify
• 25-30 drops TerraShield
• 20-25 drops Peppermint
• 25 drops Cedarwood
• 4 oz Water

In a 4 oz dark glass bottle place the drops of oils. Fill the bottle with water. Shake Before Spraying. 

Dr. Oz - Speaks Out About Lyme

I seriously started crying as I watched the 5 minute segment Dr. Oz did on Lyme Disease. Sound a little overly dramatic? Let me share with you why...
1. Tons of doctors and misdiagnosis.
2. More people are being diagnosed and more medical professionals are openly admitting that they don't know what they are looking for.
3. When they talked about how Avril Lavigne's close friends didn't believe or trust her diagnosis, I know exactly how that feels and how painful that is when you are suffering.
4. Antibiotics don't always work and not everyone gets a rash.

Let me explain these 4 points. I have been to tons of doctors and spent thousands of dollars trying to figure out what was happening to my body and how to treat it. Insurance doesn't cover Lyme after a month of antibiotics. It doesn't cover Lyme Literate Doctors. It doesn't cover the supplements that your body needs after it has been attacked by multiple bacteria that come along with tick borne disease.

The good news is that more medical professionals and the Center for Disease Control are admitting that there are way more cases of Lyme/Tick Borne Disease than originally thought. When Dr. Oz and an infectious disease doctor go on television and start talking about the misdiagnosis and what happens to people I feel hope that with more exposure, more research will be done and maybe in the future others won't suffer in the ways that those with Lyme do today.

Avril Lavigne's close friends were skeptical of her diagnosis. When a person is in severe pain, to the point that they can't walk, the last thing they need is for their close friends and family questioning their diagnosis or saying they don't have it. What we need is support and lots of it, for possibly a long time. Recovery doesn't happen over night; especially when it often takes months, maybe years to get diagnosed.

Hearing medical professionals say on National Television that antibiotics don't always work and not everyone gets a rash is music to my ears. They even mentioned this briefly on the Today show. For me, my symptoms started with the fatigue and muscle pain. Antibiotics are great if its caught early on. They can be extremely helpful. But they don't always cure. When a person gets a tick borne disease a host of other infections and bacteria often accompany it. They ravish your body and often need other treatments beside antibiotics. Something western medicine is not used to.

If you want to watch the segment on Dr. Oz you can by clicking here.

**IMPORTANT TO NOTE....Physicians in Missouri will often say,  "We don't have Lyme in MO. Lots of testing has been done and we don't have Lyme." I don't know. What I do know is that we have a host of other tick borne diseases and Lyme seems to be a catch all name. If you experience Lyme Symptoms, don't let that statement keep you from pursuing further testing. Find a Lyme Literate Doctor and get the help you need.

Celebrity With Lyme - Avril Lavigne

I wanted to share this story about Avril Lavigne. Often when celebrities are effected word starts getting out. I am thankful that Avril is telling her story. Below is a direct quote from Lyme Disease Challenge on Face Book. Want to make that clear for copyright.

"Why a Lyme Disease Challenge? Because even though Lyme Disease is the fastest growing epidemic in the world, patients, including, celebrities experience significant difficulty getting a proper diagnosis and effective treatment In People's cover story, Singer Avril Lavigne opened up about the devastating disease that kept her bedridden for months – and how she's fighting to recover. "I had no idea a bug bite could do this," says Lavigne, who believes she was bit by a tick sometime last spring. "I was bedridden for five months." "I felt like I couldn't breathe, I couldn't talk and I couldn't move," she says. "I thought I was dying." "There were definitely times I couldn't shower for a full week because I could barely stand," she says. "It felt like having all your life sucked out of you." Lavign describes how doctors dismissed her symptoms, blaming it on dehydration and exhaustion from her touring schedule. Like so many other patients, doctors refused to even test her for Lyme and when finally tested, standard labs failed to pick up the infection. Sadly, those suffering from Lyme Disease are often left to figure out the root cause of debilitating symptoms on their own due to unreliable tests and prevailing misconceptions. Dr. Richard Horowitz was interviewed by People Magazine this morning: http://www.people.com/people/special/0,,20826806,00.html (53 minute mark) During the interview, Dr. Horowitz explained the fallacies of standard lab tests for Lyme Disease that were developed to detect an antibody response to a single strain of bacteria when there are hundreds that impact humans (100 in the United States and 300 worldwide). Dr. Horowitz also explained that potentially deadly tick-borne pathogens can be transmitted in a matter minutes, not hours as some experts suggest. Based upon recent studies conducted by the CDC, Dr. Horowtiz states that there are between 1-2 million new cases of Lyme Disease in United States alone. Dr. Horowitz explained that if caught early, 75-80% are cured. Unfortunately, late stage disseminated infections cause chronic symptoms and are much more difficult to treat. Lavigne states that after treating for months (far longer than recommended by the IDSA, who claim you are "cured" after only a few weeks of antibiotics) she is now 80% better. While the Lyme Disease Challenge is fun, it is also extremely important because we are spreading awareness to dispel misconceptions about Lyme Disease and raising funds to support better diagnostic tests and more effective treatments."

For more about Avril Lavigne's struggle:

http://www.people.com/…/avril-lavigne-lyme-disease-bedridden

http://abcnews.go.com/…/avril-lavigne-struggle-lyme-disease…

Living With Chronic Pain

As I watch the snow fall this morning (one of my favorite things in all of the world), I am all to aware physically of how the white blanket effects me and others suffering with pain. The snow covers the ground in amazing beauty, but the cold air that accompanies brings a wealth of pain. 

Living with Chronic Pain is something that is hard to explain to people. I am not sure I have the words to describe it. Mostly, you just learn to function and determine not to let it rule your life. However, the truth is, no matter how much determination you have there is only so much you can do. When pain killers don't work, and you have doused yourself in oils and heat packs, you just look out the window and thank God for the beauty of the snow and that you have a warm home to sit and watch it from. 

Understanding a friend or family member who lives with Chronic Pain can be next to impossible. I found this list and I think it is helpful, because it says things pretty well.  

Trials / Temptations - Matt Chandler

I woke up this morning in pain. Could hardly move. I started sobbing, I was so frustrated. And then, I listened to this message. It's long, but it is full of God's word and exactly what I needed to hear today.
Matt Chandler - Trials/Temptations
James 1:2-4 "2 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; 4 and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing."